Great fun playing horn last night.
George conducting, rehearsing the band for Belford Gig on 08/10/2011.
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Thursday 22 September 2011
Blog Views
Considering that the band and blog are based in the UK it is quite interesting that the number of blog views last week were:
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and the total views so far since the blog started are:
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The amazing power of the interweb!!
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Alnwick Symphonic Wind Ensemble 20/09/2011
Had a rehearsal in St Michaels Church,Alnwick.
Great acoustics!!
Started off with Mendelssohn Overture ..really impressive for a first play through.
Sounded good with the trumpet and euph/tbn and tuba.
Another rehearsal should crack it....if the woodwind practise the tricky middle bit.
R Strauss Serenade sounded really good..just about performance ready....but does need more horns to give it a fuller sound.
Wagner Siegfried Idyll....tried a little bit...not good...may put that one on the back boiler until we have cracked the other 4.(it will take more work)
Finished off with some Mozart and Dvorak....both desperately missing the double bass.
BUT in total, a good nights rehearsal.
Mostly sounded very good.
Well done guys/gals!!
Great acoustics!!
Started off with Mendelssohn Overture ..really impressive for a first play through.
Sounded good with the trumpet and euph/tbn and tuba.
Another rehearsal should crack it....if the woodwind practise the tricky middle bit.
R Strauss Serenade sounded really good..just about performance ready....but does need more horns to give it a fuller sound.
Wagner Siegfried Idyll....tried a little bit...not good...may put that one on the back boiler until we have cracked the other 4.(it will take more work)
Finished off with some Mozart and Dvorak....both desperately missing the double bass.
BUT in total, a good nights rehearsal.
Mostly sounded very good.
Well done guys/gals!!
Tuesday 20 September 2011
Rehearsal 19/09/2011
Back to band after a week off.
Tried out some new stuff...
Carole King....sounded good on the first play through.
Dug out Barnum which we last tried about 5 years ago...
last time we couldn't play it, this time it sounded reasonable and we got through it...the standard has improved....despite the fact it's a rubbish print from a Holland publisher...bar numbers on parts don't tie up, 1st/2nd time bars missed off etc.etc.
Porgy and Bess much better this second time through.
Gilbert and Sullivan medley....getting there, but I couldn't stand rehearsing it for too long!!
Decided to ask George to take the band next week as i'm away the week after, and I will be back late for the gig.George will take the gig.
Played hn at the end in Malaguena...couldn't see George's beat from where I was sitting, so a bit of a nightmare...still I enjoyed it.
Tried out some new stuff...
Carole King....sounded good on the first play through.
Dug out Barnum which we last tried about 5 years ago...
last time we couldn't play it, this time it sounded reasonable and we got through it...the standard has improved....despite the fact it's a rubbish print from a Holland publisher...bar numbers on parts don't tie up, 1st/2nd time bars missed off etc.etc.
Porgy and Bess much better this second time through.
Gilbert and Sullivan medley....getting there, but I couldn't stand rehearsing it for too long!!
Decided to ask George to take the band next week as i'm away the week after, and I will be back late for the gig.George will take the gig.
Played hn at the end in Malaguena...couldn't see George's beat from where I was sitting, so a bit of a nightmare...still I enjoyed it.
Friday 16 September 2011
Band Members: a Milestone
Just spoken to Lorena.
We now have 40 members in the band, which is a figure we haven't been at for a long time.
Think we achieved that in the early years of the band, when we had a mixture of 50/50 adults/students.
We had students from both local schools and Newcastle schools--the students lived in the Alnwick area.
Who knows-we may get some more.
I feel the alto sax section is now complete,so we will have to start a waiting list for any one else who plays alto.
All other sections can absorb more members at the mo.
BTW there is still an alto clarinet sitting in the cupboard---any volunteers gratefully recd.
We now have 40 members in the band, which is a figure we haven't been at for a long time.
Think we achieved that in the early years of the band, when we had a mixture of 50/50 adults/students.
We had students from both local schools and Newcastle schools--the students lived in the Alnwick area.
Who knows-we may get some more.
I feel the alto sax section is now complete,so we will have to start a waiting list for any one else who plays alto.
All other sections can absorb more members at the mo.
BTW there is still an alto clarinet sitting in the cupboard---any volunteers gratefully recd.
Tuesday 6 September 2011
Rehearsal 05/09/11
Good turnout for tonights rehearsal.
3 new band members : 1 adult and 2 girls from local school.
Good to get some young blood in the band...now 4 young people.
Tried some of the new stuff.it seemed to go well .
Pleasantly surprised with Porgy and Bess...tried this out a while ago...we couldn't get away with it...but tonight..we played through it and it was recognisable....good bit of music....we'll get there.
Tried out Big Fun in the Sun.....amazing how many people knew the words to Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini!!!
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